Fall 2011 Newsletter The YDA by the numbers: Yale Debate Finishes Another Record Season

(Brandeis) and fourth (Boston 12 University) place teams combined. Tournament Wins Individual members of the YDA also made a very impressive showing this season. Nick Cugini (CC ‗13) and Sabrina Ali (ES ‗11) finished a narrow second in the race for 7 APDA Team of the Year (―TOTY‖, an award meant to Top Speaker The YDA at the 2011 APDA National Championship. recognize the consistent success Awards of a single pair of debaters), For the third year in a row, with the teams of Alyssa Bilinski (CC members of the Yale Debate ‗13) and Kate Falkenstien (SY ‗12) as Association shattered American well as Robert Colonel (SY ‗13) and Parliamentary Debate Association David Trinh (TD ‗12) finishing in the records to win the title of College of the top 10. Additionally, three Yale 28 Year (―COTY‖). This award is given debaters—Kate Falkenstien, Sabrina Final Round every year to the college which Ali and Nick Cugini ranked among the Appearances consistently finishes in the top ranks of 10 best individual speakers in the American tournaments, and is meant country (Speaker of the Year, or to recognize both the breadth of talent ―SOTY‖). The novice debaters of the and continued success of a team. In the YDA were also a big part of the team‘s 2010-2011 season, Yale not only set the success this year, with Sesenu record for the highest number of COTY Woldemariam (BK ‗14) winning Novice points ever accumulated in a single of the Year (―NOTY‖), and two other 14 season, but dwarfed the competition in novices—Michael Barton (BK ‗14) and the process, ultimately winning more Zach Bakal (CC ‗14)—finishing among Top Novice points than the second (Harvard), third the top 10. Awards Record performance at the APDA National Championship

Yale debaters set numerous Cugini (CC ‗13) reached quarterfinals, records this year at the American and four other Yale teams finished in Parliamentary Debate Association‘s octofinals. National Championship, hosted by the 21 One of the reasons the YDA was United States Military Academy in so successful was the record number of Debaters qualified West Point, New York. There, the team debaters who qualified to compete at for Nationals of Andrew Connery (PC ‗13) and Max Nationals. 21 Yale debaters qualified Dovala (SM ‗13) made APDA history for the National Championship, by becoming the first ever pair of breaking the record that the YDA had sophomores to advance to the final set during the previous season (17). round of the National Championship. Ultimately, not only was Yale able to Other Yale debaters were also qualify more debaters than any other successful, reaching every stage of school, but since 7 of the 16 teams in elimination rounds at the tournament. octofinals were from the YDA, Yale put Robert Colonel (SY ‗13) and David more teams in elimination rounds than Trinh (TD ‗12) reached the semifinal any other single school brought to 7 round, Sabrina Ali (ES ‗11) and Nick Nationals in total. Yale teams advancing to elimination rounds Right: members of the YDA at the tournament banquet. 8 Yale debaters in the top 20 Left: Max Dovala speakers (left) and Andrew Connery (right) during the final round. Yale dominates the 2011 North American Championship

For the fourth time in six years, final round. the Yale Debate Association emerged Ultimately, Nate Blevins (PC victorious at the North American ‗12) and Pam Brown (SY ‗11) won the Debating Championship. 70 teams from tournament, and Pam became the first 3 of 4 across the U.S. and Canada converged –ever American woman to win the on Fordham University in New York city Three out of the North American Championship. Also for three days of debate on topics reaching the finals was the team of four teams ranging from the government‘s role in Alyssa Bilinski (CC ‗13) and Kate reaching semifinals promoting the arts to mandatory Falkenstien (SY ‗12). Kate was also were from Yale. paternity leave. named the top individual speaker at the After six preliminary rounds of tournament. debate, Yale was already shaping up as This was far from Yale‘s first the dominant team at the tournament, successful showing at the North with both the top-seeded individual American Championship. The team of team and 7 of the 16 teams reaching Andrew Rohrbach (TC ‗09) and Grant octofinals. Yale would continue its May (SY ‗10) won the tournament in success throughout elimination rounds, 2009, and Matt Wansley (TC ‘07) and with four of the eight teams in 7 Dylan Gadek (DC ‗07) won in 2007 after quarterfinals, three of the four teams in Matt had won the previous year Yale teams semifinals and both of the teams in the debating with Ben Eidelson (ES ‘08) . advancing to elimination rounds

5 Yale debaters in the top 10 speakers

The YDA celebrates its victory following the finals of the 2011 North American Debating Championship YDA the top American team at Botswana Worlds

Last December, 13 members of remarkable, the World Championship the YDA traveled to Gaborone, was only the second British Botswana for the World Universities Parliamentary-style tournament in Debating Championship, hosted by the which the pair of sophomores had ever University of Botswana. Yale sent five competed. However, such success teams and three adjudicators to the wasn‘t unfamiliar, since the pair had tournament, the largest of any also reached the semifinals of their first American delegation. BP-style tournament, the Oxford Inter- Varsity earlier in the season, where Two Yale teams survived the they only narrowly missed advancing nine intense preliminary rounds to 321 to the final round. Teams competing reach the break. Nate Blevins (PC ‗12) and Pam Brown (SY ‗11) reached Thanks to its strong at the World octofinals, and the team of Nick Cugini performance, Yale was able to hold on Championship (CC ‗13) and Ben Kornfeld (DC ‗13) to its position as the third-ranked finished as the most successful team in the world (well ahead of the American team at the tournament, next American team, ranked 11th). The becoming the first Yale team in three YDA hopes to continue this success at years to advance all the way to world next year‘s Worlds, hosted by De La semifinals. Making their Salle University in Manila, The accomplishment all the more Philippines.

Right: YDA sophomore Ben Kornfeld debating in 3rd semifinals. Yale’s current rank in world debate (the highest of any American school)

Left: members of the YDA wait for the announcement of results from the quarterfinal round. Yale debaters win first-ever Trans-Atlantic Championship

Five members of the YDA Meredith Potter (SY ‗13), Nate Blevins traveled to Paris last November to (PC ‗12), Naz El Khatib (SY ‗12), Max compete in the first-ever Trans-Atlantic Dovala (SM ‗13) and Kristin Briggs (TC Debating Championship hosted by the ‗11). Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris The YDA won both of its debates (―Sciences Po‖). Yale joined Princeton as on unanimous decisions from the one of two American universities judging panels, first defeating Cambridge competing in the English-language 3624 in the semifinal, arguing in favor of the debates, along with delegations from the motion ―This house believes the British University of Cambridge and École Empire still rules the world‖ before Miles traveled by Polytechnique, the reigning French besting École Polytechnique in the final the Yale debaters national champions. round, arguing against the motion ―This to reach Paris. The tournament was conducted house believes Obama should not care in the unique ―Paris 5‖ style, in which about Europe.‖ The finals were observed two teams of five debaters each debate a by more than 300 members of the public motion released well in advance of the and judged by diplomats from the US, competition. Yale was represented by UK and France. 300 The number of observers who came to watch the final debate.

Clockwise from above: the Yale delegation poses with their trophy after finals; the audience which came to watch Yale debate École Polytechnique in the final round; YDA members prepare for the semifinals against Cambridge. Yale meets Princeton, Harvard for Triangular Debates

In a continuation of one of the For the 2011 iteration of the YDA‘s longest–standing traditions, six debates, Yale debaters Sabrina Ali (ES Yale debaters met with their 11), Pam Brown (SY 11) and Kristin counterparts from Princeton and Briggs (TC 11) debated a team from Harvard for the 103rd annual Harvard over individual rights vs. Triangular Debates. Dating back to collective norms. Meanwhile, Jonathan 1908, Triangulars have long been a Eng (JE 11), Kate Falkenstien (SY 12) forum for debaters from the nation‘s and Marc Wallach (CC 12) traveled to top schools to discuss current issues. debate at Princeton, arguing in favor 103 of a multi-polar world order. The number of times the The Third Annual Yale- Triangular Debates Howard Debates have been held. As part of its continuing work At the second debate in Washington, with the NAACP of Connecticut, the YDA members Kate Falkenstien, David YDA took part in the third annual Trinh, Nick Cugini and Aaron Hakim ―Great Debate,‖ pitting two teams of argued against the use of charter three debaters each against their schools in public education. counterparts from Howard University The YDA would especially like in Washington DC. to thank the NAACP of Connecticut, its 1,000+ While in previous years the president Scott X Esdaile and Howard event had been hosted at Yale, 2011 University for their hard work, Observers came to marked the first time that a second hospitality and support in making watch each of the debate between the schools was held these debates possible. “Great Debates” on Howard‘s campus. For the first Debate, held in New Haven, YDA members Vinay Presad, EB Saldana, Sam Ward-Packard and Michael Barton debated the use of prison labor.

Left: three debaters representing Yale at the debate hosted by Howard.

Above: Aaron Hakim (PC ‗13) speaks during the debate. Yale High School Invitational

The Yale Debate Association most prestigious high school hosted its 19th annual High School competitions in the country. Invitational last September. The This tournament was only tournament takes place as part of the possible thanks to the hard work of its National Forensic League (NFL) for high staff. Tournament Director Marc school students and features Wallach, along with assistant TDs competition in over a dozen events Andrew Connery, Josh Kalla, Meredith ranging from dramatic interpretation Potter, Max Dovala and Robert Colonel and monologues to policy debate. This put in countless hours of work to ensure year, Yale hosted over 1,800 high school that that the three days of competition, students from over one hundred spread out over nearly half a dozen sites schools. Since its inaugural year in 1992, 1800 around New Haven ran smoothly. the tournament has become one of the High School debat- The Osterweis Debates ers attended the 2010 Yale Invita- More than 100 high school the tradition of previous years, not only students from across Connecticut came bringing in debaters from around tional to Yale‘s campus in April for the annual Connecticut, but also from the New Osterweis Tournament– a charity Haven community, as teams coached by tournament hosted by the YDA in honor YDA members as a part of the New of its former coach, Rollin G. Osterweis. Haven Urban Debate League also Over the years, the Osterweis participated. Thanks to the work of Tournament has become a staple of the tournament director Alyssa Bilinski and Connecticut debate circuit, becoming a assistant directors Eric Brooks and Sam de-facto state championship due to its Ward-Packard, more than 100 high 100 large size and its falling at the end of the school students were able to share in this debate season. valuable educational experience at no Connecticut High cost to them or their schools. School students The 2011 tournament continued competing at the The 2010 Yale Inter-Varsity 2011 Osterweis Tournament The Fifth Yale Inter-Varsity opportunity for many schools to practice represented one of our largest ever, with the unfamiliar style without the cost of 300 students from more than 40 traveling overseas. universities attending . The 2010 Inter-Varsity was Despite only having been held overseen by tournament director Kate for the past five years, the Yale IV has Falkenstien and assistant directorss already been established as one of the Anna Moore, Aaron Hakim and Michael most prestigious competitions in the Magdzik. YDA alum Steven Kryger (SM world. Held in the British Parliamentary 10) served as the Chief Adjudicator for format (the same style as the World the event. Championship), it provides an The 2010-2011 Novice Class

Alex Bae Branford College 2014 11 Potomac, MD Top novice team Michael Barton Berkeley College 2014 awards won. Glendale, NY

Zach Bakal Calhoun College 2014 South Barringon, IL

Eric Brooks Davenport College 2014 14 Hewlett, NY Top novice speaker awards won. Claire Daviss Morse College 2014 San Antonio, TX

Dan Gordon Ezra Stiles College 2014 100 Glenview, IL Nikita Lalwani Percent of the Morse College 2013 2010 novice class Scarsdale, NY that won awards during the season. Filippos Lekkas Calhoun College 2014 Athens, Greece The 2010-2011 Novice Class

Vinay Nayak Davenport College 2014 Oak Brook, IL

Vinay Prasad Calhoun College 2013 69 Chagrin Falls, OH Total novice speaker awards won. EB Saldaña Ezra Stiles College 2014 Louisville, KY

Michael Sherman Pierson College 2014 Phoenix, AZ

Shivani Vohra Davenport College 2013 Dallas, TX

Sam Ward-Packard 30 Saybrook College 2014 Lake Geneva, WI Total novice team awards won.

Sesenu Woldemariam Berkeley College 2014 Missouri City, TX

Joanna Zheng Trumbull College 2014 Sandy, UT The 2011 Executive Board

President: Kate Falkenstien. Kate is a senior in Saybrook Col- lege from Lawrence, Kansas. She is majoring in Psychology, and in her free time enjoys pop music, baking, and reality televi- sion. Before she was president, Kate directed the Yale IV in 2009 and 2010. She has broken at the National and North American championships, and is excited to foster the team's con- The 2011 executive board of the YDA (from left to tinuing competitive success dur- right): Andrew Connery (PC ‗13), Kate Falkenstien ing her term as president. (SY ‗12), Nate Blevins (PC ‗12), Nick Cugini (CC ‗13) and Marc Wallach (CC ‗12)

Treasurer: Andrew Connery. Andrew is a junior in Pierson College from Nor- man, Oklahoma majoring in Political Science with a focus in American Politics. He has been involved with debate since high school, where he competed mainly in Policy debate and US extemporaneous speaking. Before serving on the board, An- drew served as an Assistant Tournament Director to the 2010 Yale High School Invitational and as the team‘s Facilities Coordinator.

Director of Development: Nate Blevins. Nate is a senior in Pierson College from Cleveland, Ohio majoring in Political Science. He has been debating since he was a freshman in high school, where he competed in Student Congress and Ex- temporaneous Speaking. Since joining the YDA, he has traveled around the world to compete, served as director of the Osterweis Debate Tournament and now coor- dinates alumni relations and sponsorships for the team.

Tournament Coordinator: Marc Wallach. Marc is a Calhoun College senior from New York City majoring in Political Science. He enjoys playing basketball and guitar, reading philosophy, and learning about finance and investment. He has served as Tournament Coordinator on the 2010 Executive Board, the Director of the 2010 Yale High School Invitational, and an Assistant Director for the High School Invitational in 2009.

Director of Membership: Nick Cugini. Membership Director: Nick Cugini. Nick is a junior in Calhoun College from Houston, Texas, majoring in Political Sci- ence. Nick went to Cypress Ridge High School, where he competed in extempora- neous speaking and student congress. Before serving as Membership Director, he served as co-director of the 2010 Osterweis Debate Tournament. This year, Nick is responsible for recruiting and training the new novice class and for organizing the team's social events. The YDA Family

Clockwise from above: the women of the YDA at a team dinner at Miya‘s; two team members over the summer; team members relax during Spring Fling 2011.

Though the YDA has always placed a high value on succeeding in competition, the bonds of friendship formed on the team have proved to be among its most enduring traditions. From movie nights and team dinners to long car rides to debate tournaments and down-time in between rounds, team members spend plenty of time with each other, and in the process come to form some of their closest friendships. To borrow the words former professor of history George W. Pierson used to describe Yale, the YDA is ―at once a tradition, a company of scholars, and a society of friends.‖

Counterclockwise from above: YDA karaoke night; members of the team before executive board elections; team members together on Halloween. The YDA offers its sincere gratitude to all those who have supported the team.

John Chester Adams Level: $1000-$1999 Miles Gersh Deborah Rhode Stephanie Vardavas

Triangulars Level: $500-$999 Adam Jed Peter Rohrbach David Yergin

Championship Level: $250-$499 Raymond Agran Marvin Chatinover Adam Chilton Jay Cox Orin Kramer Jeffrey Kulkarni Sarah Marberg Krista McGruder Frederick Meyer Stephen Neuwirth Steve Umin

General Donor Level

Jeff Bandman Martin Levin Paul R. Bardack Victoria Lord Anthony Brett Kent and Valerie May Michael Calhoon Peter Oddleifson Perry Dane John and Caroline Rohrbach Eric Fishman Richard Ruback Austen Furse III Richard Seeborg Rodger Gabrielson Peter H. Seed Tamar Gendler Joe Smith Edwin Gonzondsky Stephen Susman Charles Jefferson Andrew Towne William Kilborne Jerry Vildostegui Charles A. Krause Brian Weinstein Meir Kryger Stephen Wilson Aaron Lemon-Strauss Aaron Zelinsky Don Leufen Samuel Zurier Yale Debate Alumni

The YDA class of 2011

Sabrina Ali is now working at Credit Suisse in New York City.

Kristin Briggs is a management associate at a hedge fund in Connecticut.

The class of 2011– our newest debate alumni Pam Brown is working for the US government in The Yale Association for Debate Alumni Washington DC. (―YADA‖), founded at the YDA centennial in 2008, was created to help debate alumni, old and new, Jonathan Eng is working as stay connected with one another and stay updated an associate product on the team‘s current activities. If you‘re manager at Google in interested in joining or would simply like more California. information, visit yaledebate.org/alumni or email [email protected]. We’d also like to thank our coaches for their indispensible help this past season.

David Kimel Head Coach

Andrew Rohrbach Assistant Coach

Adam Chilton Assistant Coach

Alex Worsnip Worlds/BP Coach